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Police are appealing for witnesses following an attack on a teenager in Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre. An arrest has been made but witnesses and anyone with information related to the incident are asked to contact the police.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting incident reference 2469 of 25/05/17. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

“Police are appealing for information after a teenager was attacked at a Levenshulme leisure centre. At around 8.45pm on Thursday 25 May 2017 a 16-year-old boy was approached from behind by a man at the Arcadia Sports Centre on Yew Tree Avenue. The attacker pushed him to the floor and then attacked him with a knife, causing cuts to his arms. Fortunately, he managed to kick out and run away. After the attack, the man returned to the reception area of the sports centre and left the area with another man.

Officers launched an investigation and an 18-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of assault and has been bailed until Friday 23 June 2017 pending further enquiries.

Chief Inspector Dave Gilbride of GMP’s City of Manchester Team, said: “This was a shocking unprovoked attack on a teenager who was in a quiet area of the leisure centre with his friends, revising for his GCSE exams.

“Despite this man’s attempts, the boy received only minor injuries, however he is understandably very shaken up by his ordeal. We are treating the incident very seriously and we believe it was a hate crime.”

“Although we have made an arrest, we still need people who may have witnessed the attack, or indeed anyone with any information about this incident at all, to come forward and speak to us.

“Furthermore, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who has become a victim of a hate incident or crime, to report it to the police by calling 101 or through True Vision at www.report-it.org.uk

“It’s never too late to make a report.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting incident reference 2469 of 25/05/17. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

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Arcadia Swim School Information
Crash Course Intensives – One 30min lesson a day

Running 30th May – 2nd June – £8 for the week

Stages 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Space for beginners to try before they buy the regular direct debit lessons.
The programme has been expanded to add lessons on Tuesdays and Sundays. Suitable for new and existing customers. Pick a time that suits you. Contact us for more information.

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The very first Levenshulme and Burnage Garden Festival, including an Open Gardens weekender!

Please share *a lot* folks, and help us to make it a roaring success!

Many events are FREE, or cracking value, as we were awarded some cash from Manchester City Council’s Neighbourhood Investment Fund.

The first ‘event’ is is on 25th May at Levenshulme Market: Incredible Edible Levenshulme will be dishing out FREE herbs & wildflowers for tree pits and community alleys in Levenshulme and Burnage, 10am-2pm. If you’re a member of a residents’ group, have tree pits on your street, or have transformed your alley, you are eligible – FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED!

On the same day, at 1pm, Andrea, AKA Little Italy Kitchen is hosting a Garden Feast in his beautiful garden. Details are on the poster (expand poster to full screen, left click ‘options’ in bottom right corner and click ‘download’. You should then be able to enlarge it to a legible size).

Hard copies will be available at Bud, The Buttery and in and around Levenshulme and Burnage from Friday 5th May.

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Announcing ‘the event with no name’ … a two week celebration of Arts, Creativity and Culture in Levenshulme and Gorton South. Between Saturday 24th June and Sunday 9th July 2017.

As a spin-out from the Old Library campaign we are asking for contributors to a festival of “Art, Creativity and Culture”.

If you are creative in any way, or have a venue, maybe planning an event anyway… please host or hold an activity that celebrates and shows off the creativity, diversity and energy of our community.

Exhibitions, workshops, performances.

Music, film, theatre, poetry, sculpture,

crafts, comedy, and even food.

On and offline,

Things you are passionate about, that make you happy, that express hope, that challenges us and brings us together, that inspires new ideas. Anything can be art if done with creativity.

We’ll collect a list of events together, create an online brochure and publicise it. Some events may be fundraisers, but mostly its about the residents of our lovely area expressing themselves. Celebrating our community. Sharing the love.

Thoughts welcome!. We’ve created an event page, and starting to gather ideas. If possible, some activities may happen in the Old Library… but mostly its about arts and creativity out in the community.

And if you can think of a better name… add it on the event page. We’ll make a poll of the best ideas and crowdsource the final name!

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A protest march against cuts to school funding will be held on 29th April starting at 12.00 from the main entrance to Cedar Mount School and heading to Crowcroft Park for a rally and picnic.

“Please contact Miss Hollywood on 0161 359 3160 if you are interested in attending the protest at Crowcroft park on Sat 29th April. We will be setting off from the main gates at Cedar Mount Academy at 12.00 noon, bring placards and loud voices. Please share the post with your friends #whatwouldyoucut #saveourschool”

Just devastating but could have been worse, please please help in any way you can.

Wendy who runs these stables is an amazing animal lover. I met her on a rainy summers night last year when a German shepherd dog was roaming in Levenshulme and I went to scan it. She was chipped to Wendy and was a stable dog. Concerned as to how she had got out and how she was living I met Wendy at the stables and was awestruck. We found the loose panel that looked like it had been kicked and secured the dog for the night. The stables were immaculate, as was every animal within them. She told me that Sheba was due to retire but it was hard to get the right dog. Months later a rescue friend of mine was struggling to find the right place for a gsd that was a neglected yard dog that wouldn’t settle indoors. Wendy took her in and took Sheba home. Later I needed a space for a semi-feral neutered mama cat I trapped in Old Trafford. Wendy took her in as a barn cat. Two fosterers had deemed Lulu too wild and unpredictable to be a pet, Wendy took her in at the stables. Shortly after she contacted us to say Lulu just needed the right quiet home as the only cat (she’s a Bengal), and she had found her one. Lulu now spends her evenings stretched out on a rug in front of a log burner. Last time I spoke to Wendy she felt the gsd had also rehabilitated and she may have found her a new, indoor, forever home too. This woman has a gift with animals and always puts their needs first, reads them so very well.

Whether unfortunate (neglectful) accident caused by neighbours or deliberate, the family do not deserve to suffer this and need our help.

Last summer two events in a matter of days reminded us that neighbourhoods like Levenshulme and Gorton can easily become divided on the grounds of class, race and religion. The terrible murder of Jo Cox MP, followed shortly afterwards by the EU referendum, was enough to prompt a diverse group of local residents from Levenshulme to join together for a Hope Not Hate vigil on the ‘village green’. At the vigil we pledged to get to know somebody who might hold different views from us.

Since then we have seen the publication of Dame Louise Casey’s review of ‘Integration and Opportunity’ which found that social mixing and interactions between people from a wider range of backgrounds can have positive impacts; not just in reducing anxiety and prejudice, but also in enabling people to get on better in employment and social mobility. The review identified a wide range of ideas that encourage integration and social inclusion and reduce division and hatred including: English language learning, promoting activities that encourage social mixing, and empowering marginalised women.

While we may not agree with every aspect of the Casey Review, the simple idea that in diverse neighbourhoods like Levenshulme it is important for people from different backgrounds to meet and understand better those things that make us different – and those things we hold in common too.

This idea lies at the heart of what we try to do at the Inspire Centre on Stockport Road. Our busy community hub has welcomed people from very diverse backgrounds since it first opened in 2010; its board, staff and volunteers come from all walks of life and from different faith and ethnic groups. Many of its current activities celebrate the diversity found in our neighbourhood from capoeira classes to Arabic writing groups; from ESOL sessions to armchair aerobics. But until now we have never taken an intentional approach to promoting integration and empowerment.

Our new project – ELEVATE – is designed to focus hearts and minds on this vital task. From now on we are going to be particularly keen to support any activity that promotes integration and empowerment. In practical terms this means that we will have a ‘suspended room hire’ fund so that we can subsidise our normal room hire costs for those activities that bring people together or empower people who are often isolated or excluded.

We are going to develop a special Levenshulme Inclusion Charter which anybody can sign up to if they are committed to some basic principles of welcome, tolerance and support. And we are going to do some research about our local divisions and how we best overcome them. This will inform our project as it develops and as we try to become a special ‘centre’ for integration and cohesion in Greater Manchester.

In the next few months we are very much in ‘listening mode’ and we’re keen to hear people’s views and ideas about our project. We’re also in ‘fundraising mode’ as we try to generate a modest fund to support this work. To this end, I’m running the London Marathon on April 23rd and if anybody would like to sponsor me then they can e-mail me with their pledge or sponsor me directly online by clicking HERE.

The Friends of Levenshulme Station annual membership fee for 2017-2018 will be set at £1.00 per member.

Proposed: Ian Ford, Seconded: John Brown

Notes: the following notes are an explanation only and do not form part of the motion.

a. This isn’t about money – the few quid will doubtless be useful to cover small items we currently rely on individual generosity for but the issue is about sorting out our membership.

b. We currently have a mailing list but no formal membership. The current officers want as many people to be involved as possible and want to keep an open list for everyone with any interest and to continue to welcome anyone interested to our meetings. However we believe that we do need a formal membership who can vote to elect officers and on any policy matters.

c. Our constitution requires us to consider a membership fee every year – which has always been set at £0.00. We thought the easiest way to list actual members was to have nominal membership fee – the members are simply those who have paid.

Announcing ‘the event with no name’ … a two week celebration of Arts, Creativity and Culture in Levenshulme and Gorton South. Between Saturday 24th June and Sunday 9th July 2017.

As a spin-out from the Old Library campaign we are asking for contributors to a festival of “Art, Creativity and Culture”.

If you are creative in any way, or have a venue, maybe planning an event anyway… please host or hold an activity that celebrates and shows off the creativity, diversity and energy of our community.

Exhibitions, workshops, performances.

Music, film, theatre, poetry, sculpture,

crafts, comedy, and even food.

On and offline.

Things you are passionate about, that make you happy, that express hope, that challenges us and brings us together, that inspires new ideas. Anything can be art if done with creativity.

We’ll collect a list of events together, create an online brochure and publicise it. Some events may be fundraisers, but mostly its about the residents of our lovely area expressing themselves. Celebrating our community. Sharing the love.

Thoughts welcome!. We’ve created an event page, and starting to gather ideas. If possible, some activities may happen in the Old Library… but mostly its about arts and creativity out in the community.

And if you can think of a better name… add it below or on the event page. We’ll make a poll of the best ideas and crowdsource the final name!

There are two Incredible Edible Levenshulme community events to let you know about this week – IEL will be working on the Village Green and A6 planters on Wednesday evening, and there’s a community action day on Saturday 22nd (with Levy Market, Friends of Levenshulme Station, Love Levenshulme and IEL) to litter pick and clear spaces for planting on the Street With No Name.

Village Green & Planters

Date: Wednesday 19th April

Venue: the Village Green

Time: 6.30pm

Please bring gardening gloves and hand tools if possible.

Community Action Day

Date: Saturday 22nd April

Venue: meet on the Street With No Name

Time: from 10am

All equipment will be provided, plus a free hot drink for all volunteers!

ORDER NO. MCC0001742-
The City of Manchester (STOCKPORT ROAD, LEVENSHULME) (TEMPORARY Prohibition of Vehicular Traffic) Order 2017

The effects of the notice will be to prohibit access and egress by vehicular traffic at the side roads connecting onto Stockport Road between Broom Lane and Crossley Road as specified in the schedule to this Notice. Between 07:00 hrs and 19 00hrs Weekends only.

The City Council is satisfied that this prohibition is necessary in order to facilitate Highway Improvement Scheme works. It is expected that the works will be in progress between 22 April 2017 and 07 May 2017 Stockport Road will remain open at all times for the duration of the works.

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The list of candidates for the Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election has been confirmed.

ABIDOGUN, Kemi (Christian Peoples Alliance)

CLIFFORD, Peter (Communist League)

DISCO, The Irrelevant Johnny (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)

ECKERSLEY, Phil (UK Independence Party (UKIP))

GALLOWAY, George (Independent)

HOPKINS, David Michael

JARADAT, Shaden (Conservative Party)

KHAN, Mohammed Afzal (Labour Party)

KHANDOKER, Sufi Miah (Independent)

MAYO, Jess (Green Party)

PEARCEY, Jackie (Liberal Democrats)

The hustings for candidates organised by Levenshulme Community Association takes place on Saturday 22nd April at the Jain Community Centre, 667/669 Stockport Road, Manchester, M12 4QE, starting at 19.00.

On the 4th of May, all eyes will be on Levenshulme as we elect a new MP to replace the much-loved Gerald Kaufman. But there will be another important election that day that could possibly have more day-to-day impact on our neighbourhood – the election of a Greater Manchester ‘metro mayor’.

The new mayor will cover all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester and have powers over transport, policing and some aspects of planning too. He or she will play an important role in relation to devolution and will become something of a figurehead for our city – much like Boris Johnson or Sadiq Khan have done for London.

But one of the crucial reasons for us having a new metro mayor is to make us feel closer to democratic decision-making. It is easy to be cynical – so how do we do this?

For some time now, around 20 groups and organisations from all over Greater Manchester have been meeting to plan a special GM Citizen’s Assembly. The plans is that over 1500 people will pack out the Lowry Theatre on Bank Holiday Monday 1st May and together we will tell all of the possible mayoral candidates about some of the big issues we are concerned about and demand that if they are elected they will do something about them.

It’s a strategy that has worked very well in London and has led to the introduction of the London Living Wage which has benefited thousands and thousands of low-waged people living in the capital city.

In Greater Manchester we are going to lobby the mayoral candidates on 4 big issues: cuts to social care; homelessness; hate crime; and the Living Wage.

The Assembly won’t be boring! We understand it will be a bank holiday but we want people to make the most of the day. There will be music, drama, comedy, plays, powerful testimonies and of course hearing from the candidates themselves. We will be joined by the mayoral candidates, other surprise guests and Sir Peter Fahy. We want people to bring families and children. This is for ordinary families and people across our community.

If you’d like to come along you need to sign up. You can do so online by clicking here. Or alternatively you can join the coach that is leaving from Inspire at 12.45pm. The event is free but you need to buy a coach ticket in advance – £5 for waged people; £2.50 for unwaged.

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The very popular night markets have been special occasions before. From today they go monthly replacing the Saturday market once a month moving to every third Friday of the month. Food and fun from 17.00-21.00.

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Judy Noah, Head of Development at One Manchester will be at the Levenshulme Community Assoiciation AGM this afternoon to provide information and answer questions on the Chapel Street housing development.

The meeting starts at 14.30, Saturday 11th March, in the Community Studio in the Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre.

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The next meeting of the Friends of Fallowfield Loop will be on Monday 20th March at the Union chapel Wellington Road Fallowfield at 7.30pm. New members welcome.Subsequent meetings will be held bi-monthly on the 3rd Monday of odd months.

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The Klondyke in association with Greater Manchester Unite Community Branch are proud to present a pay as you feel showing of “I Daniel Blake” on Wednesday 22nd March 2017.

Ken Loach`s powerful 2016 film “I Daniel Blake” has been a huge box office success and has won many prestigous awards for its realistic and moving portrayal of the failings of the benifit system and the impact this has on people`s lives in 21st century Britain.

Unite Community campaign against benifit sanctions, welfare cuts and zero hour contracts and provide support to people experiencing difficulties with benifits in Manchester. We will be offering some free tickets for the film to people that Unite meet and help at local jobcentres, who havent yet been able to afford to see the film which depicts their daily experiences with the DWP. Other tickets will be availabe on a pay as you feel basis. all profits will be split equally to help local food banks, the unemployed worker`s centre.

A vegan curry with rice will be available for all after the film, followed by an optional open disscusiion and questions and answers with a well selected panel.

Sweets, popcorn and other refreshements availble PLEASE NOTE …. The Klondyke have kindly offered the room for free so any beverages alcholic or soft must be purchased from the bar.

There is a raffle on the night and also an online raffle both with a large ammount of prizes all donated by local people and businesses.

Please remember when at the payment stage on the booking site when it says a donation the suggested amounts are: £3.50 minium / £5.50 / £8.50 generous

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It is with great sadness that we report the death of Sir Gerald Kaufman.

Sir Gerald’s Manchester Gorton constituency included Levenshulme and he was Honorary President of Levenshulme Community Association. He was a dedicated MP who was proud to champion his constituency and respond diligently to constituents’ correspondence and issues. He had served at Cabinet level and was Father of the House.

We will remember him as a gentle, principled and dedicated public servant who was passionate about the work he did for his constituents and engaged with and supportive of the work of Levenshulme Community Association.

A Manchester City Council book of condolence available in the Town Hall and online HERE

Both the Inspire Centre and the Arcadia Leisure Centre in Levenshulme also have books of condolence available.

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Pauline Johnson who runs the LoveLevenshulme website has teamed up with Levenshulme Market for a one day litter picking event.

“Love Levenshulme have teamed up with the Levenshulme Market crew at the relaunch of their 2017 season (YES!). On Saturday 4th of March at 10am we’re doing a big community litter pick, a proactive approach and hoping to tackle attitudes towards flytipping in the area with a community stall/info point and posters dotted about the district centre in advance. We need to rally the cleaning troops!”

Manchester City Council is consulting on future funding arrangements for voluntary and community organisations.

“We fund many voluntary and community sector organisations. They’re an important part of the city providing care, support and help to Manchester people.

We want to make sure we get the best value for money, and provide that money in a way that helps organisations to do good work.

Over the past few months we have been working with a ‘co-design group’ made up of people from the council, voluntary and community sector organisations and the NHS, to come up with some new options for funding the voluntary sector in Manchester. We’ve based these proposals on the Our Manchester Strategy.”

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As agreed at the Levenshulme Community Forum Meeting Greater Manchester Police have shared this update on the reported rape of a 12 year old girl on Chapel Street. The case has been closed with no further action being taken after the girl disclosed that the report was not genuine.

The LCA continues to work with GMP to ensure improve communication with the community. We are planning a drop in session at Inspire on Stockport Road to provide information and advice on safety. The LCA is also working with Inspire who are organising a series of personal safety training sessions with the support of local councillors. Details on both these activities are currently being confirmed and will be advertised separately.

GMP Press Release

“The investigation into the rape of a 12-year-old girl has concluded.

On Friday 30 December 2016, the girl disclosed to police that she had been raped while walking on Chapel Street, close to the Horseshoe Pub on 22 November 2016.

Officers launched an investigation and a 16-year-old boy was arrested and bailed pending further enquiries.

At the end of January 2017, the girl disclosed to officers that the original report was not genuine.

The 16-year-old boy has since been released without charge and no further action will be taken.

Chief Inspector John-Paul Ruffle of GMP’s City of Manchester Team, said: “We take all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and the welfare of the victim is our priority.

“As soon as a report is made, the victim is supported by specially trained officers and we trust that each report is genuine.

“We have carried out extensive enquiries and there were increased patrols in the area to reassure members of the community and encourage people who were understandably concerned to approach us.

“As part of the investigation, we have concluded that it is not appropriate for us to pursue a prosecution in this instance due to a number of vulnerabilities that have been identified.

“The girl is now being fully supported by specially trained officers and partner agencies.

“Help and support is always there for people who report sexual offences. If you want to make a report of a sexual offence, you will be taken seriously.”

To report a sexual offence you can contact police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

—

Greater Manchester is nationally recognised as a model of good practice in terms of support services available to victims.

– If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.

– You can call Greater Manchester Police on 101, or alternatively people can refer themselves to St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0161 276 6515, whether or not you want make a police report.

– St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester provides a comprehensive and coordinated forensic, counselling and medical aftercare service to anyone in Greater Manchester who has experienced rape or sexual assault. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and people can access them via Greater Manchester Police, or as a self-referral.

– Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential support service run by women for women and girls who have been raped or sexually abused. Confidential helpline: 0161 273 4500. Black and Minority Ethnic helpline: 0161 273 4514.

– Survivors Manchester offers support and counselling for adult male survivors of sexual abuse and rape, regardless of when the event happened. Contact 07919 246 267.

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Levenshulme Market is looking for two Directors with specific knowledge and expertise in:

Community and trader liaison

Finance and HR

“Levenshulme Market is looking for two new amazing people to step up and become part of our board of directors. You won’t get rich (the role is unpaid, with a few notable exceptions) and you will have to commit around 10 hours a month but in return you will have an amazing experience, contributing to the work of a fun, sociable social enterprise that is at the heart of a vibrant and exciting community. You’ll get to learn more than you ever knew about the goings on behind the scenes at the Market (and in Levenshulme – we know ALL the gossip), be able to use it to build your professional skills and network AND it will look great on your CV.”

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We are looking to recruit Directors to form a Community Interest Company.

Here is The Beehive’s mission statement:

We plan to create a community hub environment for the people of Levenshulme where many of the community needs can be met, supported and developed. The intention is to provide a centre for information, education, support, activity and creativity. We hope to bridge the gap between the old and the young, across all cultures by providing a vibrant and welcoming community hub.

This will be a significant improvement as this site has been derelict land for many years. Developers Mulbury will start work in Spring 2017.

David Wroe, head of Mulbury Living, said:

“This site provides an excellent opportunity to increase the supply of high-quality, sustainable family homes in Levenshulme. By regenerating a site that has fallen into disrepair, these homes will also have a significant positive impact on the local area, including a new street layout and landscaping.

The development has been designed with respect for the existing homes in the area. They will be of a modern appearance with the use of red-facing brick and rendered gables, while the apartment block will acknowledge the architecture of the former Atlas Mill.”

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested following the rape of a 12-year-old girl in Levenshulme.

On Friday 30 December 2016, the girl disclosed to police that she had been raped while walking on Chapel Street, close to the Horseshoe pub on 22 November 2016.

She had been walking on the road sometime between 5pm and 5:30pm, when she was grabbed from behind by a male who dragged her into the alleyway which runs behind Cardus Street and raped her.

He then ran away from the scene in the direction of Stockport Road.

Today, Friday 13 January 2017, a 16-year-old boy from Longsight has been arrested.

Detective Inspector Dave Moores of GMP’s serious Sexual Offenses Unit said: “This week we released an e-fit of a person we wished to speak to regarding this attack. I would like to thank the public for the response we have had.

“We have now arrested a 16-year-old boy. He is currently in custody being questioned.

“Our investigation is still ongoing however, so anyone who may have witnessed the incident or may have seen anything suspicious is asked to get in touch.

“There will still be an increased police presence in the community whilst the investigation continues to encourage those who have information to come and speak to us and reassure anyone with any concerns.”

If you have any concerns or want to speak to someone to pass on information, or report a sexual offence, you can contact police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.